Director of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) at the University of Ghana, has issued a clarion call for Ghana and Africa to transform untapped data into equitable AI solutions that address the continent’s most pressing societal challenges. Speaking at the 2026 Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa, organised by the School of Biological Sciences under the College of Basic and Applied Sciences at the University of Ghana, Prof Samuel Kojo Kwofie declared that data is the new gold and Africa is sitting on a vast, largely unexploited reserve. “Ghana and Africa at large have a wealth of data that remain unused to create solutions for health, agriculture, climate change and beyond,” he told the gathering, held under the theme “From Molecules to Ecosystems: Science Solutions for an Equitable Africa.” “What does an equitable Africa look like?” he asked.
“Access to healthcare regardless of location, quality education for all, food security, economic opportunities for women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Sustainable development that preserves resources for future generations.” While acknowledging the innovations already taking root across the continent, Prof. Kwofie insisted that much more could be achieved if Africa deliberately invested in artificial intelligence.
The numbers make a compelling case. Over the past five years, AI investment in Africa has surged from roughly $1.2 billion to an estimated $4.1 billion, according to Prof. This financial momentum, combined with a strategic push from organisations like UNESCO and the African Union, is creating fertile ground for homegrown solutions.
Ghana is not standing on the sidelines. Earlier this year, President John Dramani Mahama officially launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2035, marking the beginning of what officials describe as the country’s AI revolution. The strategy’s vision, “GHANA 2035: THE AI-POWERED SOCIETY,” envisions a transformed society where AI advances the potential of people, government, businesses and systems to achieve inclusive social and economic transformation.
The country’s Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843) provides a regulatory framework for privacy and personal data processing, a critical foundation for responsible AI development. “Investing in AI and data science is one of the surest ways to tap into the new gold,” he emphasis…
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